Prof. Morenike Toyin Ukpong, Dean, Dentistry Faculty, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has attributed the latest ranking of the institution’s Dentistry Faculty by the Global Academic Ranking of World Universities (GRAS) to the high-quality collaborative research outputs from the faculty.
The report for the 2022 GRAS ranking released recently also featured other Nigerian universities such as the Veterinary Sciences of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, emerged 201- 300 groups while in Psychology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka emerged in the 401-500 groups.
An elated Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry, Prof. Ukpong, joined other colleagues in celebration.
She said, “I think collectively we know that the Faculty is strong and we can do much more together. Most importantly, we want to do a lot more. The major driver of this noble achievement is the high-quality collaborative research outputs from the Faculty.”
Besides, Ukpong revealed that Biomaterial Science Research is ongoing in the faculty to facilitate changes in Dental Biomaterial Research in the country, adding, “We are one of the few centres in the country building competency on research conduct and dissemination. We are looking forward to NUC approval of our Dental Implantology Master programme”.
However, the Chairman of the Governing Board of the Higher Education Observatory for Africa (HEOFA), Prof. Peter Okebukola, has congratulated the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, the Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, as well as authorities of the Faculty of Dentistry of the Obafemi Awolowo University, (OAU) and the entire university community in general.
In the same vein, a member of the Board of Higher Education Observatory for Africa (HEOFA), Dr. Fred Mansah, a Ghanaian, attributed the feat attained by Nigeria universities in the GAS ranking as the dividend of the NUC-led efforts on Nigeria universities culminating in the academic ranking of the world universities, saying it is worthy of jubilation.
Within the OAU fold, Prof. Foluso Owotade, ex-dean Faculty of Dentistry, said the news was quite encouraging and that the feat was a combination of academic excellence
